Nn To Improve Cnu Crosswalks

NEWPORT NEWS — The city plans to make the crosswalks on Warwick Boulevard more visible within 90 days.

The city will make crosswalks more visible on Warwick Boulevard near Christopher Newport University within 90 days to lessen the odds of another student dying in a crash.

An 18-year-old CNU student died about two weeks ago after a Ford Explorer hit her as she stepped into the street at Prince Drew Road. Police said the light was green, and the driver was not charged.

That intersection does not have a marked pedestrian crossing. City engineers will mark it and install a push-button signal, making it similar to three nearby crosswalks provided for students.

"Even if we had done all of this stuff before, this accident probably still would have happened," said Randy Hildebrandt, an assistant city manager. "But the next one might not."

The potential for a fatal crash has worried some students and drivers since CNU announced its plans to expand to the east side of Warwick Boulevard in early 2001. About 50,000 cars and 4,000 pedestrians cross that section of road daily.

Within about three months, engineers also want to:

* Redo pavement markings at the three existing crosswalks and widen them to 10 feet.

* Install signals that tell pedestrians at each crosswalk how many seconds they have to cross the street.

* Put up signs for pedestrians to cross only at crosswalks.

* Put up signs with flashing lights to warn drivers that they're approaching an area with many pedestrians.

"We've got to do everything we can to make it safe, safe, safe," said Councilman Joe Whitaker, "even if people don't use their heads all the time." *

City engineers and university officials are scheduled to meet next week to talk about how to share costs and to pitch other potential safety precautions.

CNU President Paul Trible has asked city officials to lower the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph, install signals that provide audible warnings to pedestrians and prevent cars from turning right on red.

City engineers want the university to offer a shuttle service at times students are most likely to cross the road, enforce crosswalk usage with campus police and erect barriers, perhaps landscaping or fencing, to funnel students toward crosswalks.

Also, both city and university officials continue to consider building a pedestrian bridge over Warwick Boulevard, but a consultant expects few people to use it. *